The Dukeâ€™s boat gets historic designation

The Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by actor John Wayne is joining the National Historic Register. The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach.PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A boat once belonging to John Wayne has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wild Goose, which is now owned by Hornblower Cruises and docked in Newport Harbor, started out as a minesweeper in World War II.

Wayne bought it in 1962 for $116,000. After his surgery for lung cancer in 1964, Wayne moved to Newport Beach to spend time resting on the boat.

He entertained Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, among others, on the 136-foot boat.

Kevin Lorton, general manager of Hornblower Cruises, said that a plaque has been placed on the first deck of the vessel.

"In regards to the Wild Goose making the National Registry, we're very, very pleased," Lorton said. "We believe this recognition appropriately identifies the boat's strong local, regional and national significance with its ties to Mr. Wayne and its original service in the military."

The historic designation was approved last month. It imposes no restrictions on the owner, but it does provide some benefits.

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act mandates that federal agencies give the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and a state historic preservation officer the chance to comment on projects that could affect the historic property.

"Although the advisory council doesn't have the power to halt a harmful project permanently, it can-and does-work with the sponsoring agency, preservationists, and other interested parties to seek ways to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts," Dwight Young wrote in a recent issue of Preservation magazine.

The Wild Goose has been through many changes. After its minesweeping work, it was bought by a Seattle tycoon, who sold it to Wayne.

The next owner spent millions on renovations, which have changed the look of the boat since Wayne owned it.

The boat was in an episode of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and two movies: "The President's Analyst" (1967) and "Skidoo" (1968).

The latter movie is something of a cult classic: it stars Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx, Carol Channing, Cesar Romero, Mickey Rooney, and Peter Lawford, but it's about LSD. Director Otto Preminger famously got Gleason and Marx to drop acid in preparation for their roles.A boat once belonging to John Wayne has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Wild Goose, the yacht once owned by actor John Wayne is joining the National Historic Register. The yacht is now owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The master state room in the Wild Goose was added in a retrofit done by John Wayne just after he bought the ship in 1965. Interior bulkheads were removed to give the yacht a more spacious feel, and overheads were raised to accommodate Wayne's height. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A painting of John Wayne hangs in the fireplace room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was owned by John Wayne. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A view from the outside of the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. Shortly after Wayne bought the ship in 1965, the actor began a retrofit to make the ship a more comfortable, family-friendly yacht. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The engine room of the Wild Goose holds two 500 hp engines, the original engines installed when the ship was built for the Navy at the beginning of World War II. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The brass wheel in the bridge of the Wild Goose is the orginal from the ships days as a U.S. Navy minesweeper during World War II. The yacht was owned by John Wayne, who left many of the original military elements intact . PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The bar on the main deck of the yacht Wild Goose, which was owned by John Wayne. The ship, currently owned by Hornblower Cruises, is joining the National Historic Register. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The original engine order telegraph in the bridge of the Wild Goose, a 136-foot former U.S. Navy minesweeper that was owned by actor John Wayne. It was used by the pilot on the bridge to order engineers in the engine room to power the vessel at a certain speed. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A wood-burning fireplace was added to the Wild Goose by John Wayne in a retrofit he did shortly after buying the yacht in 1965. Wayne entertained passengers such as Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dean Martin on this yacht. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Carved-wood appointments to the Wild Goose, the yacht formerly owned by actor John Wayne who bought it in 1965. Wayne sold the yacht just before his death in 1979 to a Los Angeles attorney. The yacht is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Elser Morales, fleet manager for Hornblower Cruises walks past the many gauges in the engine room of the Wild Goose, the yacht that was once owned by actor John Wayne. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
A poker table that was used by John Wayne and his guests sits in a room that was added to the Wild Goose after it was sold by Wayne in 1979. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Wild Goose, a yacht owned by John Wayne for many years, is currently owned by Hornblower Cruises in Newport Beach and is being added to the National Historic Register. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
From the grand stairway leading from the main deck of the Wild Goose to the upper decks visitors are greeted by a painted portrait of actor John Wayne, who bought the ship in 1965. PAUL RODRIGUEZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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